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Defence White Paper focuses on mental health

ELIZABETH JACKSON: As Australian troops are gradually withdrawn from Afghanistan, there'll be more young veterans living in the community than at any other time since the Vietnam War.

Since then, there's been a greater understanding of the long-term mental health effects of war, including post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Government's new strategic vision for Australia's defence forces includes $25 million to help deal with the problem, but some are already questioning whether that will be enough.

From Canberra, Simon Cullen reports.

SIMON CULLEN: Throughout 2010, Major-General John Cantwell was the commander of Australia's forces in Afghanistan. He returned home with the mental scars of battle.

It's an issue that's been given extra prominence through yesterday's release of the 2013 Defence White Paper.

In unveiling the new strategic plan, the Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced there'd be $25 million set aside to boost mental health care for service personnel.

JULIA GILLARD: The critical importance of looking after the health and wellbeing of our serving and ex-service men and women, including in relation to mental health disorders.

SIMON CULLEN: The Veterans Counselling Service will be extended to border protection staff, those involved in dealing with disaster zones, and people hurt in training accidents as well as their families.

It'll also cover the families of veterans killed in operational service and include a new post-discharge screening assessment carried out by a GP.

Major-General John Cantwell:

JOHN CANTWELL: I think we've got the right level of prominence in a paper such as the Defence White Paper, which stands as the highest statement of government policy in regards to Defence.

SIMON CULLEN: By the end of this year, most Australian troops will have returned from Afghanistan.

There's growing recognition within the Defence Force that many will require mental health care and support in readjusting to life back in Australia.

Former Defence Force chief Admiral Chris Barrie isn't convinced the extra $25 million will be enough.

CHRIS BARRIE: I think it's a step in the right direction in the sense that we've allocated some serious money to dealing with the sorts of issues that are going to crop up. But I'll also say there's more than just throwing money at it to solve this problem.

I think that getting families really involved in this is important. They're the people that are going to recognise there's been a change, if there is a change. They'd be the first point of contact, I'd say, in recognising PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) in any way.

SIMON CULLEN: General John Cantwell says families often bear the brunt of the mental health challenges facing veterans and he's hopeful there'll be further changes to the way the Defence Force deals with the issue.

SIMON CANTWELL: I think there will still be quite a few difficulties for our veterans who are seeking the help that they deserve. And this is largely because they are dealing with a large bureaucracy and these are always difficult things to do, particularly if one is mentally unwell. It's the worst time to wrestle with some bureaucrat over form-filling.

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